flesh fly

noun

: a dipteran fly whose maggots feed on flesh

especially : any of a family (Sarcophagidae) of flies some of which cause myiasis

Examples of flesh fly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For the half-inch-long flesh fly larva, childhood is often a brutal experience. —Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019

The rotten smell attracts pollinators including flesh flies, dung beetles, and other carnivorous insects. —Daniel Kool, BostonGlobe.com, 23 July 2023

In the wild, smelling like a dead animal helps corpse flowers attract pollinators like carrion beetles and flesh flies, which lay their eggs or larvae in animal carcasses or rotting fruit. —Victoria Sayo Turner, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 July 2023

Dung beetles, flesh flies and other carnivorous insects that eat dead flesh are attracted to the odor in the plant’s native Sumatra. —oregonlive.com, 15 July 2019

For just two days, the flower will emit the rotting corpse scent that, in the rainforest, attracts native carrion-consuming beetles and flesh flies that pollinate the tiny florets at its center to produce seed berries. —Pam Kragen, sandiegouniontribune.com, 15 Sep. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

flesh fly

noun

: a dipteran fly whose maggots feed on flesh

especially : any of the family Sarcophagidae of flies some of which cause myiasis